The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-09-21
AMERICAS FORESTS
An Appeal to Congress to Prohibit Their
Unnecessary Destruction.


Unnecessary Destruction
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, September 16-The
American Forestry Congress, at present in
session in this city, has prepared the fol-
lowing memorial to Congress:
WHEREAS, The present laws in regard to
the public lands, as far as they relate to
the disposal of timber lands or of the
timber from the same, are entirely made
qua,e 70 the requirements of the present
state OF our civilization, are unreasonable,
pernicious and prejudicial to the best in
terests of this country and have tendency
to induce fraud, theft and perjury:
WHEREAS, Especially in the Rocky
Mountain and Pacific slope region, the
mining interests in regard to materials,
supplies and the agricultural interests in
regard to a favorable distribution of water
supply are threatened with danger, or have
already been endangered by the thought
LEES and unnecessary denudation of the
mountain slopes and hillsides.
Whereas, by az, by the teeth of cattle
and by fire, many millions of dollars
worth of public property have been de-
stroyed without benefit 70 anyone, owing
to the neglect on the part of the Govern
menL to protect the property of the
people.
Whereas. favorable agricultural aud cli-
naiic conditions Of a country are largely
dependent upon proper amount of well
distributed forest areas, and especially the
preservation of the forest cover on the
mountains.
Whereas, such preservation cannot be
had under the existing laws nor eau De ex.
pec'ed at the hands of private indi-
viduals.
Whereas, by the disposal OF the timbsred
srees row in the hands of the United
States and by their devastation, under
prttent conditions going on unchecked, the
power to insure proper forest regulations
passes from the people.
Therefore the Undersigned memoriRlists,
imbDed solely by desire to farther the
best intere SITS of the country at large, most
respectfully and urgently pray that you
will without delay give consideration TO
end enact rs law the uoiOined bill which
provides for the withdrawal from entry or
sale ard the classification and proper dis
possl or administration OF pubic forest
lands.
TIE bill contains twenty-three ssctio 0s
and provides for the protection of the
forests tie withdrawal of forest land from
CT iry under existing laws; the classical
ton of forest lands; the creation of forest
reserves; the sale OF timber on Govern
ment lands, the creation of q Commissioner
of forests in the Department OF the Inter-
ior and four assistant commissi oners; the
organization of force of inspectors and an
appropriation of $500,00
To-days 81 ssion OF the American Congress
OF Forestry opened with the reading of an
interesting paper on the subject OF forestry,
prepared by JOAQUIN Miller, of California.
A resolution was adopted thanking Mr..
Miller for his production. after which the
committee on nominations reported the
following officers for the ensuing year:
President, Hon. G. r. Pringle, of Atlanta,
Ca; vice presidents, Hon. H. G.. Jolley,
Quebec, Jos. F. Fay, Boston, ]. ii. Parsons,
Colorado, and Albert Kenney, California I;
treasurer, Hon. Martin Conrad, Chicago;
secretary, r. z. Fernow, Washington,
c., and recording secretary, Charles G.
Bell, Bonneville, Mo.
Resolutions were adopted as follows;
Naming the months OF from August to 0c-
tober inclusive 90 the time of holding the
annual meetings OF the congress, the exact
date to be fixed by the Executive Commit
tee; raising the life membership from $40
TO 500; constituting the two secretaries
and the treasurer Permanent Committee
on Finance creating COMMITTEES to urge
the adoption by Congress of bill for the
encouragement OF forestry and protection
of forests on government domain; recon-
mending that all National societies inter-
ested in the promotion of agriculture, hor-
ticultural forestry and kindred subjects,
hold their amt al meetings next year at
same city at the am time; creating COM
mittee to draft bill to be presented to leg
islative bodies Of the various states for the
appointment of State forestry commissions
and the protection of forests and encour-
agement of tree growth.
Hon. ID. A. Robertson, of st. Paul, Min.
nesOta. read a brief but instructive paper
on the Cllmatology, Geography and Topog-
raphy Of the Great Continental Plains of
North America. after which the congress
adjourned sine die